Contender vs. contestant: what’s the difference?
The short answer
The term contender often implies someone with a realistic chance of winning or who is considered a serious competitor, whereas contestant is a more general term for anyone who participates in a competition, regardless of their chance of winning.
What they have in common
Both contender and contestant refer to individuals who are competing for something, usually in an event, competition, or contest.
Examples
contender
- She is a strong contender for the title.
- Many believe he is the leading contender in the upcoming election.
- The team is a serious contender for the championship this year.
contestant
- Each contestant must submit their entry by tomorrow.
- There were twenty contestants in the race.
- The contestant answered all questions correctly to win the prize.
Which one is more common?
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